Indiana University Southeast
OP-9: Landscape Management

There are approximately 8 acres of rental property managed by tenants. These rental properties are not located on the IUS campus grounds. These tenants are not employees of the institution.

At IU, interior and exterior pest control and removal are provided by Facility Operations or RPS professionals. Needs for these services should be communicated to your building management staff.

While all pests are nuisances in some way, some are also vectors, which are living organisms that can transmit infectious diseases between humans or from animals to humans. Diseases transmitted from animals to humans are referred to as zoonotic diseases. IUEHS focuses on providing guidance and educational resources to address nuisance pests that cause public health concerns and vector pests that harbor and spread disease. The sections below provide information and steps that you can take to help protect yourself and the IU community.

The Athletic fields are largely contracted spaces therefore we consider these grounds as “conventionally managed.” However, campus landscaping contains no-mow zones, which was first introduced in 2010, starting with the perimeter of IUS Lake. Small, unmarked segments of wildflower patches are sprinkled around the Crestview Hall, and Life Science buildings, with other potential locations. A 70 x 70-foot plot of native wildflowers is located near the Evergreen West Parking Lot. The patch was seeded in January 2019 and allows faculty members to expose students to native Indiana plants. There are installations of bioswales in areas of the campus to reduce the percentage of total rainfall-runoff and to assist with a natural filtration system for stormwater.

https://indiana-university-southeast.foleon.com/alumni-magazines/fall-2019/campus-wildflower-plot-benefits-local-wildlife/

In an effort to reduce our water usage during landscape management, IUS limits the use of spray irrigation. We have now moved to drip irrigation to ensure that our watering systems are efficient. We moved to this system to ensure that very little evaporation is lost, water is not carried away by the wind, and to supply water directly to our plants that are in need.

Our mowers are equipped with mulching blades. Leaves and organic debris are mulched each week and serve as plant food during the winter months. All trash dumpsters are co-located with recycling dumpsters. There are recycling containers in hallways, offices, and near most entryways.

During the summer of 2020, we repaved our Central Parking lot, while doing so, to mitigate adverse environmental impacts at the expense of this renovation we created a space that contributes to the entire fabric of our campus. We did this in the following ways: to combat the original heat island of this parking lot we planted 125 native trees to maximize shading and greening, this helps us neutralize drainage, and provide safe pedestrian circulation. We also installed these trees to enhance air and water quality, reduce our greenhouse gas emission, reduce our stormwater runoff quantity and improve its quality. Examples of native trees we planted: Oaks, Elms, Gum, Redbud, Serviceberry, and Honey Locust.

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Data was provided by the following IUS representatives: Director of Facility Operations and Accounting Assistant-Staff Council Vice President.

Additional context for specific answers:
Question-Area managed organically, without the use of inorganic fertilizers and chemical pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides.
Answer-Includes wooded areas, some turf areas (i.e. some area around ballfields, warehouses, Observatory area), and pond areas.

Question-Area is managed in accordance with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program that uses selected chemicals only when needed.
Answer-28 acres treated by TruGreen; approx 5 acres treated by GreenScapes; Lake area (approx 3 acres) treated by Aquatic Control.

Campus wildflower plot benefits local wildlife and student learning | https://indiana-university-southeast.foleon.com/alumni-magazines/fall-2019/campus-wildflower-plot-benefits-local-wildlife/